Module 4/4 22 min
Special cases, and the final test
Step 1 / 2·Three difficult situations
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Learning objectives — after this module you will:
- Handle three difficult 90-day situations
- Recognise the signs you need to adjust early
- Complete the final test
Learn ~8 min
Three difficult situations
Have a plan for the cases that do not follow the standard script.
Adaptation by situation
| Situation | Adaptation |
|---|---|
| Hired specifically to fix a struggling team | You still need the understanding phase, but compress it to two weeks and tell the team explicitly that you will listen before changing anything. Make the first change something the team has wanted for a while. |
| Your predecessor is still at the company in another role | Meet them early and privately; ask what three things they regret not finishing. Avoid any public comparison with their era. |
| You were promoted from within and now manage former peers | Talk to each person privately in the first two weeks and name the change rather than ignoring it. Shift from 'we' to 'the team' in how you speak. |
The sign you need to adjust early
If after six weeks you still have not been invited to a single conversation you did not ask for, you are outside the information flow. Raise it directly with your manager rather than waiting for it to improve on its own.